How To Have A Montessori-Inspired Summer Vacation

Plan Your Vacation The Montessori Way

Include The Whole Family In Planning
One of the best ways to get buy-in from parents and kids of every age is to include everyone in planning the ideal family holiday. Older children can help choose a destination, research routes, and plan budgets. Younger children can help plan an itinerary and select which activities to do on specific days. As a family, make sure each person has chosen one or two favourite activities and discuss compromise. Involving everyone in planning will impart a sense of responsibility, engagement, and a personal investment to ensure everyone has fun.

Set Clear Expectations
Traveling into the unknown can cause some children to feel uncertain or anxious. Explain activities in detail, share your expectations, and let children know what they can expect too. It could look like this:

On our first day of vacation, we are going to drive to the airport very early in the morning. Our flight will last three hours and we will have to sit in our seats unless we need to use the washroom. We can have some snacks, read a book, draw a picture, and watch a movie, then we will be in a different city. When we get to the new city, we can put our suitcases in our hotel room, have lunch, and go to the beach.

Knowing what is expected of them and what to expect will help your younger child prepare and adapt to the new environment.

Foster Independence
It can be difficult to let your child experience independence when you are in a new location and out of your comfort zone. But enabling your child to make decisions and be responsible will build confidence and resilience when facing new challenges. Let your preschooler pick out their clothes based on the day's planned activities, let them order for themself at the restaurant, and expect them to keep their toys and belongings organized in the hotel. This personal responsibility will help them build the skills they need to succeed when they return to school in the fall.

Move Every Day
Of course, you want to enrich your child’s mind, explore the local culture, and sample the traditional cuisine. But don’t forget to move and get outside to play every day! Movement and spending time in nature are important aspects of the Montessori Method and summer vacation is the perfect time to get in touch with nature and let your child move their body.

Let Your Child Lead Sometimes
The Montessori Method places a lot of emphasis on child-led learning. This strategy can be a lifesaver during a family vacation. It may be tempting to carefully schedule every moment of every day to ensure that your vacation time is maximized, but try to “schedule” some time to let your children lead the way. And be flexible with your family. Visiting the famous botanical gardens in your destination city might have seemed like a great idea in the planning phase of your vacation, but maybe everyone would do better just grabbing an ice cream cone and chilling at the hotel pool. We strive to enrich our children’s minds on vacation, but sometimes the most cherished memories are created when we are just doing nothing, together.

Holiday The Montessori Way  

Summer family vacations are often some of the sweetest and most treasured memories we hold. We long to give our children the same kinds of experiences that shaped our childhoods and motivated our globetrotting dreams. Make your summer vacation the best it can be with these Montessori-inspired tips and give your child the gifts of travel and adventure.

If you are interested in exploring the benefits of a Grey Matter Montessori education for your preschool-aged child, contact us to book a time for a school tour at our NW Calgary location. We are accessible just off of Symons Valley Parkway in the NW community of Evanston. Call us for more info on our early child education programming at 587-707-4739.

FAQ

Q: Does Grey Matter offer any summer programming for preschoolers?
A: For the summer of 2022 Grey Matter Montessori is focussing on Brain Building and enjoying the outdoors. We are offering two camps for students aged 3-6.
Explorar Mexico!
This summer camp is full Spanish immersion and will give students the opportunity to paint, cook, and explore the outdoors while learning the culture, language, and history of Spanish-speaking countries.
Math And Chess Camp
This summer camp encourages your child to learn to love math and to explore the magic of the game of chess. With hands-on opportunities to learn and a giant-size chessboard, this camp is challenging and fun.
Learn more about Grey Matter Montessori summer camps here.

Q: Is there a checklist of things my child must know before attending preschool?
A: At Grey Matter Montessori in Calgary, we value the differences that make each child unique. If your child is aged 3-6 they may be ready to begin to explore learning and we are ready to facilitate it. Learn more about exploring your child’s readiness for preschool here. 

Q: When do you accept registration?
A: Grey Matter Montessori has ongoing registration and even offers advanced registrations (up to two years). Contact our office for more information on the upcoming school year and register as early as possible to ensure availability for your desired days and times